Kleinmond: Namibian Speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, emphasized that parliamentarians play a crucial role in ensuring that emergency preparedness extends beyond government agencies and reaches every community. "The role of parliamentarians in disaster risk reduction extends far beyond mere legislative oversight. We are the bridge between government policy and community needs, the guardians of public accountability, and the voice of the most vulnerable in our societies. In Namibia, as in many of your respective countries, we have witnessed firsthand how disasters disproportionately affect those who are least equipped to recover from them," she said in a statement.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the Speaker made these remarks during her address at the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit held in Kleinmond, South Africa. The former Namibian prime minister highlighted that the summit is occurring at a time when the world is facing unprecedented challenges from climate change and natural disasters. She stressed the importance of parliamentary leaders taking a proactive role in ensuring that nations are prepared, resilient, and capable of responding effectively to disasters.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila pointed out that effective early warning systems are essential for disaster preparedness and that parliaments are central to national disaster management policies. She noted that parliament's law-making function provides tools to integrate disaster risk reduction into national frameworks and ensure the mainstreaming of gender in disaster risk management frameworks.

The Speaker also mentioned that Namibia has aligned its domestic policies with international commitments, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals. The three-day summit, which concluded on Friday, brought together speakers from parliaments of G20 member countries to discuss, among other topics, the strengthening of disaster resilience and response, as well as ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries.